A multifunctional integrated carbon nanotubes/polyphenylene sulfide composite: preparation, properties and applications

Although great progress has been achieved in polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites by the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the development of cost-efficient, well dispersive and multifunctional integrated PPS composites has yet to be achieved because of the strong solvent resistance of PPS. In this work, a CNTs-PPS/PVA composite material has been prepared by mucus dispersion-annealing, which employed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to disperse PPS particles and CNTs at room temperature. Dispersion and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that PVA mucus can uniformly suspend and disperse micron-sized PPS particles, promoting the interpenetration of the micro-nano scale between PPS and CNTs. During the annealing process, PPS particles deformed and then crosslinked with CNTs and PVA to form a CNTs-PPS/PVA composite. The as-prepared CNTs-PPS/PVA composite possesses outstanding versatility, including excellent heat stability with resistant temperatures up to 350 degrees C, corrosion resistance against strong acids and alkalis for up to 30 days, and distinguished electrical conductivity with 2941 S m(-1). Besides, a well-dispersed CNTs-PPS/PVA suspension could be used to 3D print microcircuits. Hence, such multifunctional integrated composites will be highly promising in the future of new materials. This research also develops a simple and meaningful method to construct composites for solvent resistant polymers.

Automated summary

A CNTs-PPS/PVA composite material has been prepared by using PVA to disperse PPS particles and CNTs at room temperature. The as-prepared composite possesses outstanding versatility and can be used for 3D printing microcircuits. This research provides a simple and meaningful method to construct composites for solvent resistant polymers.